A plurality of hardware units of a redundant automation system each include a plurality of processor units that each execute a group of tasks, where groups of tasks executed on different hardware units receive the same input signals directly or indirectly from a managed industrial process, and determine the same output signals for the managed industrial process, where however, only the tasks of one of the groups executed on different hardware units each output their output signals to the managed industrial process, where the groups executed on different hardware units synchronize with one another via a respective communication link, and where the groups of tasks executed on the same hardware unit exchange data between themselves on a pair basis via a respective pair of intermediate storage units.